Abductions –an after thought

Reading few websites, including Tamilnet and few Pro Peace (LTTE Peace) NGO/ NGO Ltds' I get the impression that most of the people who are living in Colombo or at least majority of the Tamils get abducted now days. So, if that's the case, then all most all the white colored vans I see on the road everyday must be either transporting abductees or transiting towards an abduction point.

Some times I'm made to feel as of these metaphorical 'white vans' are a alternative and covert means to curb the shortcomings with public transport, introduced by ,well at least in the eyes of the 'Peace' NGOs .,the Government and some cases 'Para militarise'.

Either way there are many ways to define Abductions, for example in the West , including NATO +PfP countries use the term Rendition instead of Abductions, while in the US its known as Extraordinary Renditions.

whereas is Sri Lanka , white vans are associated with Abductions, Renditions are associated with Executive Jets and Cargo Planes flying to hitherto unknown air fields in eastern Europe, and Middle East , stopping over in major NATO/US bases in Mediterranean and Central Asia.

Then there are other forms of abductions, such as in Central and South America, where abductions are also known as kidnapping and are a thriving local industry itself. There are related services provided by major Western companies and institutions in order to prevent kidnapping in Americas in the form of risk assessments /hostage negotiation etc.

Some people believe in more unearthly forms of abductions and this is known as 'Alien' abductions. X-files are well known for this.

When abductions take place in Europe and US (or renditions as know in that region), they are a necessity. they involve one or many western states , mostly NATO members like Norway , UK and Germany etc. when that happens , people get abducted and bungled in jets and flown to Middle East or North Africa, to places where better known for torture then tourism. They end up later by a busy street in a third country they are wanted or under persecution and of course, a county with a high quality Human Rights abuse record.

When Abductions happen in Sri Lanka, they are a gross violation of Human Rights, a major draw back for Democracy and Fundamental Rights. that's the view of the 'International Community' mainly consisting Western Countries with a interest in Sri Lanka , such as US,UK, Germany ,Norway etc. that view receives a instant seal of approval provided by the so called 'civil society' of Sri Lanka ,consisting a motley collection of Colombo based NGOs. Also since such acts are committed by the Government according to NGO sector and furthermore they will say the government is behind every missing person, however genuine or not the claims are.

When the LTTE abducts children to expand its cadre, that's called a forced recruitment and warrants no reaction from neither the international community nor the civil society and in turn the LTTE is served with a muted press communiqué.

Considering above, one can say there is a stark difference between how abductions are perceived in Society, and moreover, it depends of the different powers involved and also depends of biases and sympathies.

Anyway with regards to abductions in the Sri Lankan context, one has to be more rational and practical. This phenomenon of abductions should not be interpreted not treated with western norms but must be looked through a Sri Lanka angle.

Abductions are a integral part of the Sri Lankan psyche, and this has been practiced for a long time. When considering the actual history of abductions, it spans a few millennia and the oldest recorded incidence of abduction is recorded during the ancient Lankapura times, when king Ravana of Sri Lanka abducted the wife of Rama , princess Seetha of India.

This was not a snatching of a woman, as its portrayed in some western text. Had that been the case there will be a different type 'Ramayana' today, as the Ramayana discusses in length the character of Seetha before and after the abduction and her subsequent rescue. So, it was a abduction, of Political in nature. Is a nutshell the first recorded abduction in Sri Lanka involves a woman but is centered around a political issue. The fight to save Seetha is seen as a war between good and the bad, it self reflects the opposing ideology representing the two warring parties.

Then there are more historical evidence, including Pandukabhaya abducting his mother etc.

Therefore, abductions in Sri Lanka should be taken in a more cultural sensitive aspect. This is a expression of culture and a manifestation of our hidden identity as island dwellers of Sri Lanka and not a pseudo western practice of rendition.

This is why both the government and TNA is silent on the 'growing' spectra of abductions as they both get their interests served, as the government go on thinking with abductions , the Security Forces are getting rid of the LTTE sympathizers ,while LTTE is clogging time with more the suffering of the Tamil people , more the support to their cause increase.